With the scenic Western Ghats providing a fitting background, the refurbished Bharat Scouts and Guides Training Centre at Papanasam in the district became operational on Wednesday.

Chief Educational Officer M. Sivakumar inaugurated the renovated building in the presence of heads of various schools in the district. This facility will be used for organising training sessions and camps for scouts and guides.

The Bharat Scouts and Guides Training Centre, which was in dilapidated condition over the past several years could not be used for organising training camps for the scouts and guides. R. Subha, headmistress of Tilak Vidhyalaya Higher Secondary School, Kallidaikurichi, and District Commissioner of Bharat Scouts and Guides, was entrusted with the job of identifying sponsors for renovating this structure in disuse.

“Now, thanks to the sustained efforts taken by Ms. Subha and her team and the liberal contributions of the sponsors, the new-look training centre has born again. I sincerely thank all the individual sponsors and the schools who took part in this noble exercise of giving rebirth to a dilapidated structure for a noble cause,” Mr. Sivakumar said.

Individual sponsors Mouli Chandrasekaran of USA, Balasubramanian of Ivory Coast, L.K.S. Sulaiman of Chennai, Chokkar S. Bhagavat Singh of Tiruchi, and S. Venkatraman of Chennai, St. Ignatius Convent Higher Secondary School, Palayamkottai, Ramaseshaiyer Higher Secondary School, Pattamadai, Theerthapathi Higher Secondary School, Ambasamudram, T.P.S. Sokkalal Higher Secondary School, Mukkoodal, St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Palayamkottai, Child Jesus Higher Secondary School, Palayamkottai, Concordia Higher Secondary School, Valliyoor, Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal Golden Jubilee Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Sankar Nagar, Amir Jamal Higher Secondary School, Idaiyankulam, Tilak Vidhyalaya Higher Secondary School, Kallidaikurichi, IELC, Nagercoil and Global Software, Tirunelveli have contributed for the renovation of this centre.